#DanKolov2019

Dan Kolov Day Two Finals Set

By Eric Olanowski

RUSE, Bulgaria (February 28) - Eight different nations inserted at least one wrestler into Friday night's Dan Kolov freestyle and women's wrestling finals. Russia led the finalist count with three freestyle representatives, but they can only claim a pair of medals because Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) and Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS) will wrestle each other for the 70kg gold medal.

To make the 70kg finals, Bekbulatov thumped Asian Games bronze medalist Sirojiddin KHASANOV (UZB), Rio fifth-place finisher Frank Aniello MOLINARO (USA), and two-time Russian National runner-up Viktor RASSADIN (RUS), outscoring the three by a combined score of 28-2. 

In the finals, he'll meet fellow Russian Anzor Zakuev, who's making his first senior-level finals appearance. To reach the gold-medal match, Zakuev defeated Ukraine's two-time Olympian Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR), 4-1, in the semifinals.

Russia's third freestyle finalist is Magomed KURBANOV (RUS). Tenth-ranked Kurbanov will take on Georgia's Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) in the 92kg gold-medal bout. 

Indian's Sandeep TOMAR (IND) will lace up against returning 57kg world runner-up Nurislam (Artas) SANAYEV (SANAA) (KAZ). But, the match will be up a weight class at 61kg. Sanayev destroyed the United States' 2018 world bronze medalist Joe COLON, 13-2, locking up his spot in the finals, and Tomar shutout Turkey's Munir AKTAS (TUR), 4-0, to reach his second Ranking Series final in the last two seasons. Last year, he lost to Iran's Mohammad YAKHKESHI for the Yasar Dogu gold. 

The lone remaining freestyle gold-medal matchup comes at 79kg where and is between Alexander DIERINGER (USA) and Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU). The American used a 5-1 win over U23 world champion Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO) to reach the finals, and Nazhmudinov inked his way to the gold-medal match with a 7-4 win over Russia's Atsamaz SANAKOEV. 

Meanwhile, in women's wrestling, Sakshi MALIK (IND) stunned defending world champion Petra OLLI (FIN), 4-1, and grabbed the biggest shocker of the tournament.  

The Rio Olympic bronze medalist will wrestle Sweden's 2010 world bronze medalist Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) for the Dan Kolov title. Johansson reached the finals by sticking Maya NELSON (USA) in her semifinals bout. This will be Johansson's second finals appearance in the past two weeks, as she's coming off a gold-medal performance at the Klippan Lady Open. 

Circling back to the 55kg finals where Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) will meet Greece's Maria PREVOLARAKI for the gold medal. Sedneva grabbed arguably the second biggest upset of the tournament with her semifinals pin over reigning world champion Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR). 

The 59kg weight class had four entries and is a round-robin competition, so the final gold-medal bout on Friday night will be at 72kg, where Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR) will meet fourth-ranked Buse TOSUN (TUR). 

Wrestling resumes tomorrow at 10:00 (local time) with the Friday night finals starting at 18:00. 

SCHEDULE
March 1 (Friday) 

8:00 - Medical examination and weigh-in 1 - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR (+ 2 kg) - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
8: 30 - Weigh-in 2 FS - 61,70,79, 92 kg; GR (+ 2 kg) - 55,63,72,82 kg; WW - 55,59,65, 72 kg Referee meeting
10: 00 - Elimination rounds FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76 kg
10: 00 - Repechages FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg
16: 30 - Draw - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
17: 00 - Semi-finals FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
18:00 - Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 61,70,79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg

RESULTS
Freestyle
61kg
GOLD - Sandeep TOMAR (IND) vs. Nurislam (Artas) SANAYEV (SANAA) (KAZ)
SEMIFINAL - Nurislam (Artas) SANAYEV (SANAA) (KAZ) df. Joseph Daniel COLON (USA), 13-2 
SEMIFINAL - Sandeep TOMAR (IND) df. Munir AKTAS (TUR), 4-0 

70kg 
GOLD - Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) vs. Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS)

SEMIFINAL - Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS) df. Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR), 4-1 
SEMIFINAL - Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) df. Viktor RASSADIN (RUS), 10-0 

79kg
GOLD - Alexander DIERINGER (USA) vs. Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU) 
SEMIFINAL - Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU) df. Atsamaz SANAKOEV (RUS), 7-4 
SEMIFINAL - Alexander David DIERINGER (USA) df. Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO), 5-1 

92kg
GOLD - Magomed KURBANOV (RUS) vs. Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) 
SEMIFINAL - Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) df. Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR), 7-4 
SEMIFINAL - Magomed KURBANOV (RUS) df. Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA), 3-2 

Women's Wrestling 
55kg
GOLD - Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) vs. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) 
SEMIFINAL - Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Roksana ZASINA (POL), 3-1

SEMIFINAL - Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), via fall 

59kg
Round-Robin - Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Kornelija ZAICEVAITE (LTU), via forfeit
Round-Robin - Pooja DHANDA (IND) df. Sarita SARITA (IND), 4-3

65kg
GOLD - Henna Katarina JOHANSSON (SWE) vs. Sakshi MALIK (IND)
SEMIFINAL - Sakshi MALIK (IND) df. Petra OLLI (FIN), 4-1
SEMIFINAL - Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) df. Maya NELSON (USA), via fall. 

72kg
GOLD - Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR) vs. Buse TOSUN (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 9-6 
SEMIFINAL - Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR) df. YAN Chuchu (CHN), 6-2 

#WrestleSamokov

Yakushenko, Zakriev one win away from second U20 World gold

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 22) -- Defending champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) returned to the final at 97kg as he once again managed to beat silver medalist Darius KIEFER (GER).

Unlike finals last year, both met in the semifinals this year but the result was no different as Yakusheno was clearly the better wrestler on Friday. After getting the first par terre position, Yakushenko turned Kiefer for two points and then lifted the German for a correct throw for two points for a 5-1 lead.

Kiefer got par terre in the second period and tried to get the turn but managed only a point for stepout from Yakushenko, making the score 5-2. That was all the action in the match as Yakushenko let out a loud cry after victory and so did Kiefer after his loss.

Yakushenko now leads the head-to-head 3-1 with the one loss coming in the European U20 Championships final this year in Carole, Italy.

He will face a new challenge in Hadi SEYDI AVENDI (IRI) in the final after the Iranian managed to over come Ilia KOMAROV (UWW) in the second semifinal, which was also a match decided from par terre.

Seydi Avendi led 5-0 at the break and was put in par terre in the second period and Komarov needed two turns for a 5-5 criteria lead. However, he managed to turn Seydi Avendi only once for two points to cut the lead to 5-3.

Iran had a second finalist in 55kg as 2023 world U17 champion Payam AHMADI (IRI) scored a 3-0 victory over Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ) in the semifinals. He will face another 2023 world U17 champion in Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) who defeated Daisuke MORISHITA (JPN), 10-2.

Dashdamirov had a difficult opening bout against Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series gold medalist Anil MOR (IND) but managed to hold on to a 9-9 criteria win.

At 72kg, Asian U20 champion Ahmad KODIROV (UZB) and European U20 silver medalist Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) reached the final after impressive wins.

Kodirov face Oliver PADA (FIN) in the semifinal but managed to hold on to an 11-3 technical superiority win as Pada failed to finish his attempted bodylock throws.

Terteryan faced former world U17 champion at 71kg Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) but shut him down with defense to win 5-1.

Zakriev chases second title

Returning world 63kg champion Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) moved up to 67kg for this year's World U20 Championships but followed a similar path to the finals. Zakriev had a troublesome semifinal last year and there was difference this year as he almost got pinned in the semifinals again.

Facing European U20 bronze medalist Fariam MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), Zakriev tried to do a suplex but landed on his back with Mustafayev on top. The Azerbaijan wrestler was awarded two points and he almost sat on Zakriev for the fall but the time ran out in the first period.

He then managed to return with takedown despite Mustafayev's pressure who scored two stepouts. But as Mustafayev tried a big throw, Zakriev landed on top and got four points and won 14-7.

For his second straight gold medal, Zakriev will face Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ), the Asian U20 champion, who had a controlled 5-1 win over Fayozbek ESHMIRZAEV (UZB).

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) vs. Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE)

SF 1: Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) df. Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ), 3-0
SF 2: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) df. Daisuke MORISHITA (JPN), 10-2

67kg
GOLD: Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) vs. Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW)

SF 1: Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) df. Fayozbek ESHMIRZAEV (UZB), 5-1
SF 2: Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) df. Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), 14-7

72kg
GOLD: Ahmad KODIROV (UZB) vs. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Ahmad KODIROV (UZB) df. Oliver PADA (FIN), 11-3
SF 2: Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) df. Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE), 5-1

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) vs. Hadi SEYDI AVENDI (IRI)

SF 1: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Darius KIEFER (GER), 5-2
SF 2: Hadi SEYDI AVENDI (IRI) df. Ilia KOMAROV (UWW), 5-3